KP government’s decision termed unconstitutional

Appointment of Edwards College principal

PESHAWAR - Members of the Christian community have expressed concerns over the re-advertisement for appointment of principal in the Edwards College Peshawar and termed the step contrary to constitution of the college.Addressing a news conference at the Peshawar Press Club on Thursday, Coordinator Diocese of Church Peshawar, Church of Pakistan Hayat Bhatti said that an advertisement was posted on the college’s website, seeking application for the vacant position of principal. He said the step was contrary to constitution of the college.Bhatti recalled the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government earlier through its Higher Education Department tried to appoint principal of the college but later took back the decision following the protest of Christians. As per the constitution of college, he claimed, the Bishop of the Diocese of Church, Church of Pakistan is authorised only to appoint principal of the college without the interference of provincial government. But he said that certain members of search committee and Board of Governors (BoD) were trying to take control of the college by curtailing the powers and role of Diocese of Church Peshawar in the college.The college’s care taking administration, he said, made many changes in the present prospectus of the Edwards College Peshawar and also abolished the mission’s statement from it. Besides, Bhatti said that a note regarding chapel given in the prospectus for 2013-14 along with written draft of sponsorship Diocese of Peshawar (Church of Pakistan) had also been removed, which is totally unjustifiable and unacceptable. He said the attempt was a pre-plan to abolish the decades-old history of the college, which was tantamount to insult the entire Christian community.“We do not want confrontation or to hold agitation against this discriminatory attitude of the present provincial government,” he said, adding rather want to resolve the issue peacefully and as per constitution of the college.He demanded the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor and chief minister to resolve the issue forthwith, otherwise, the community would strongly protest it.

This news was published in The Nation newspaper. Read complete newspaper of 04-Jul-2014 here.